Theres a few good weblog type sites that you can customise a lot, dont have any names though but I'm sure someone will.

If you want a .ie you have to have documentation that you have a claim to that name, a business or legal entity. Its a real pain, with novara.ie they let you pay for a .ie (89 euros) and afterwards tell you to send all these documents. A .com is much cheaper and easier.